"Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. John L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches"

Title: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. John L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches

Artist: Timothy O'Sullivan 

Timothy O'Sullivan was a mid 19th century photographer who specialized in depictions of the Civil War of 1861. He mainly went to battle scenes and took photos of the dead bodies and war scenes after the battle was over. This particular photo, however, shows a veteran named John Burns. While this photo doesn't show a dead body mutilated from war and battle, it shows a survivor in his new life, post Civil War. (This was taken in 1863) This isn't O'Sullivan's most famous work, but I chose it because of the content. Knowing what O'Sullivan focused on as far as his photography was concerned, you can tell this must be a victim of the Civil War. The title alone says he was the "old hero of Gettysburg". But there is a simple, almost mundane look on his face as if being in the war was enough to emotionally scar him for life. He has no physical bandages or scars from the battle on his body that you can see, but by looking at his face and reading that emotion, you can tell he has lived through a lot. 

The objects in the background give a lot of symbolism to the photo. Behind the Burns are an old pair of crutches that are most likely used for some sort of injury he received as a result of being a soldier. I feel like they're behind him because he doesn't necessarily alway have to see them, but he knows he needs them. To his left there is a gun sitting propped up against the door of his house. This means he has been psychologically scarred from the war and must always have a weapon on his person in case the enemy ever strikes again. These two objects play a similar role in showing the after effects of a war both physically and emotionally or psychologically. Burns needs both the objects, in his mind, in order to continue living- to survive. This image can serve for generations to come about the dangers of war and the effect it can have on not only a single person, but a nation or country as a whole.